Bankruptcy

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many bankruptcies have been declared by the official receivers to be the result of dishonest, reckless or otherwise culpable behaviour under the bankruptcy restrictions orders process contained in the Enterprise Act 2002.

Patrick McFadden: Where the Secretary of State considers that a bankrupt has been guilty of dishonest, reckless or culpable behaviour he may seek to obtain a bankruptcy restrictions order (BRO) or bankruptcy restrictions undertaking (BRU).
	In the period 1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005 there were four BROs and 16 BRUs.
	In the period 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006 there were 190 BROs and 653 BRUs.
	In the period 1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007 there were 264 BROs and 1,603 BRUs.
	In the period 1 April 2007 to 18 March 2008 there were 171 BROs and 1,598 BRUs.
	This amounts to a total of 4,499 bankrupts subject to bankruptcy restrictions since the Enterprise Act came into force.

Common Sugar Regime: ACP Countries

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations his Department has made to the European Commission on the prompt and efficient payment of transitional funds allocated to Caribbean sugar protocol countries as part of the accompanying measures to the reform of the EU sugar regime.

Gareth Thomas: In November 2007 the Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the European Commissioner for Development expressing concern about delays in disbursement of funds allocated under the accompanying measures to reform of the sugar regime. He also stressed the importance of making timely predictable disbursement of funds under multi-annual programmes. On the 7 of March officials from DFID met with Koos Richelle (Director-General for European Aid) in Brussels and they will also be raising this issue. We will continue to monitor the timing and effectiveness of disbursements under the AMSP and make representations to the Commission for improvement when needed.

Common Sugar Regime: ACP Countries

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations his Department has made to the European Commission to ensure that transitional funding promised to Caribbean signatory countries of the sugar protocol as part of the accompanying measures to the reform of the EU sugar regime will be disbursed according to the timetable set out in the Multi-Annual Indicative programme (2007-10).

Gareth Thomas: In November 2007 the Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the European Commissioner for development expressing concern about delays in disbursement of allocated funds under the accompanying measures to reform of the sugar regime. He also stressed the importance of making timely predictable disbursement of funds under multi-annual programmes. On the 7 of March officials from DFID met with Koos Richelle (Director-General for European Aid) in Brussels and they will also be raising this issue.
	As part of the Multi-Annual Indicative programme under the accompanying measures for sugar protocol (AMSP), the Commission agrees an annual action plan (AAP) with member states. The 2007 action plan was approved in October 2007 and funds are now being disbursed. We expect the 2008 action plan to be presented to member states for approval in September 2008. DFID-Caribbean is working closely with the Commission Delegation in the region to ensure that all disbursed funds are spent effectively.
	We will continue to monitor the timing and effectiveness of disbursements under the AMSP and make representations to the Commission for improvement when needed.

Common Sugar Regime: ACP Countries

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much the European Commission disbursed under the Multi-Annual Indicative programme (2007-10) for Caribbean signatory countries of the sugar protocol as part of the accompanying measures to the reform of the EU sugar regime in the period 1 January 2007 to 1 January 2008; and if he will make representations to the European Commission on the disbursement before 31 March 2008 of the remaining funds allocated for 2007 to Caribbean signatory countries.

Gareth Thomas: Disbursement of funds to countries benefiting from support under the accompanying measures to the reform of the EU sugar regime are governed by two multi-annual programmes (2007-10 and 2011-13). Each year the Commission agrees an annual action plan (AAP) with member states and this identifies levels of support and how funding in that year will be spent. The 2007 AAP was approved in October 2007. Based on the latest information received from the Commission no funds were disbursed between 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2008. However, disbursement of funds has now begun.
	In November 2007 the Secretary of State for International Development wrote to the European Commissioner for development expressing concern about delays in disbursement of allocated funds under the accompanying measures to reform of the sugar regime. He also stressed the importance of making timely predictable disbursement of funds under multi-annual programmes. On the 7 of March officials from DFID met with Koos Richelle (Director-General for European Aid) in Brussels and they will also be raising this issue. We will of course continue to monitor the timing and effectiveness of disbursements under the sugar protocol and make representations to the Commission for improvement when needed.

Departmental Contracts

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the  (a) nature and  (b) value was of all contracts, consultancies and other services placed with (i) Deloitte and Touche, (ii) Ernst and Young, (iii) KPMG, (iv) PricewaterhouseCoopers and (v) PA Consulting in each year since 2004-05 by his Department, its predecessor Department and its agencies.

Gareth Thomas: Central records indicate that the following amounts have been paid in total by BERR, and its predecessor DTI, to each of the companies in the following financial years:
	
		
			  £ 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 (to date) 
			 Deloitte and Touche 9,844,267 8,471,533 5,979,860 4,456,895 
			 Ernst and Young 1,926,463 2,988,557 2,221,127 1,048,151 
			 KPMG 2,985,984 3,035,393 609,247 528,614 
			 PWC 2,530,816 3,487,680 5,001,767 2,767,627 
			 PA Consulting 844,989 939,936 775,361 292,081 
		
	
	I have asked the chief executives of the Executive Agencies to respond directly to the hon. Member.
	Further information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether any of his Department's special advisers have outside also work for organisations outside his Department.

Gareth Thomas: The special advisers for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform do not have any appointments outside their departmental roles.
	Special advisers are appointed under terms and conditions set out in the "Model Contract for Special Advisers". Copies of the "Model Contract" are available in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Publicity

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department and its agencies spent on staff working on  (a) marketing and  (b) branding in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Gareth Thomas: BERR's strategic marketing team has overall responsibility for departmental marketing and branding. Based on figures for November 2007, the paybill for this team over 12 months would be approximately £670,000. A more detailed breakdown could be provided only at disproportionate costs.
	The Insolvency Service estimates its costs for staff working on marketing and branding in the last 12 months to be £5,000.
	Companies House estimates that in the last 12 months it has spent £700,635 on staff working on marketing and £32,000 on branding.
	UK Trade and Investment pay costs for strategic marketing by its Marketing Group were approximately £590,000 for the period December 2006 to November 2007.

Industrial Diseases: Compensation

Michael Clapham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many awards have been received by former miners or their widows under the Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Scheme 1974 since 2004; and how many of them have also received an award under the Pneumoconiosis etc. Workers Compensation Act 1979.

Malcolm Wicks: Since 27 March 2004, when British Coal Corporation was wound up, 3,021 awards have been made to former miners or their widows under the Coal Industry Pneumoconiosis Scheme.
	In the same period 397 payments have been made to these claimants under the 1979 Act administered by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Members: Correspondence

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he will reply to the letter dated 7 September 2007 from the hon. Member for Dundee East, regarding a constituent, Mr. Lee Sexton, of Dundee.

Gareth Thomas: The hon. Member's letter was answered on 12 November 2007. I have arranged for a copy of the letter to be sent to your office.

Nuclear Decommissioning Authority: Finance

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what proportion of the recent increase in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's current costs is related to dealing with the problems associated with high level waste management, as identified by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate in their June 2007 Quarterly Report on Sellafield.

Malcolm Wicks: In response to concerns raised by the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) requested the Site Licence Company to review the high level waste management strategy. This review has resulted in additional scope of work valued in the region of £334 million. These additional costs were included in the £72.7 billion future cost estimates reported in the NDA annual report and accounts 2006-07(page 103) and formed part of the £8 billion increase on the previous estimate of £64.8 billion.

Nuclear Power Stations: Finance

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the value is of the contract his Department has signed with UBS Bank AG for advice on the commercial and financial aspects of new nuclear power plants; when the contract was signed; and what its duration is.

Malcolm Wicks: UBS AG have been appointed to advise the Government on the realisation of its policy on new nuclear build, and they started work in early March 2008. The terms of the appointment are confidential.

Overseas Trade: Finance

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 21 February 2008,  Official Report, column 840W, on overseas trade: finance, how many overseas offices each agency maintains; and in which countries.

Patrick McFadden: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) on 20 March 2008,  Official Report, column 1290W.

Parliament: Postal Services

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the cost to Post Office Limited is of operating the Crown post offices on the Parliamentary Estate.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what account Post Office Ltd. will take of the cost of individual sub-postmasters' contracts in deciding whether a post office should be closed.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for the Post Office Ltd. (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply to the hon. Member.
	Copies of this letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what process will be followed by Post Office Ltd. and his Department in determining a final list of post offices for closure.

Patrick McFadden: Final decisions on post office closures rest with Post Office Ltd. However there is a four stage review process in place for Post Office Ltd. and Postwatch to reach an agreed way forward by a bilateral review of individual cases closures. The review process is instigated by Postwatch if it appears that the company has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or where evidence emerges from consultation that the proposal for the branch does not meet the Government's policy requirements.

Post Offices: Closures

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to ensure that Post Office Ltd investigates alternative courses of action, including renegotiation of contracts with sub-postmasters, in relation to post offices earmarked for closure.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, Managing Director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps he is taking to ensure that Post Office Ltd. will take account of planned housing development in areas where post offices are earmarked for closure; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: This is an operational matter for Post Office Ltd (POL). I have therefore asked Alan Cook, managing director of POL, to reply direct to the hon. Member.
	Copies of the letter will be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Post Offices: Closures

Anne Snelgrove: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Post Office Ltd's economic model in identifying post offices for  (a) potential and  (b) final closure.

Patrick McFadden: Following the national consultation on the future of the post office network, the Government have set a framework of access criteria and other factors to be considered by Post Office Ltd. in developing its proposals for post office closures at area plan level and subsequently reaching final decisions on them. Postwatch acts as the consumer voice in this area and it assesses whether, for an individual branch, Post Office Ltd. has not given due consideration to material evidence received during the public consultation in coming to its decision or that evidence has emerged from the consultation that the proposal for the branch does not meet the Government's policy requirements. In these circumstances, Postwatch can trigger a review process to enable it and Post Office Ltd. to reach an agreed way forward on the relevant branch.

Postcomm

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform whether he plans to alter the  (a) status and  (b) remit of Postcomm.

Patrick McFadden: Under the Postal Services Act 2000, Parliament established Postcomm as the independent regulator for postal services. Postcomm's primary statutory duty is to ensure provision of a universal postal service. Subject to this, Postcomm will exercise its functions in the manner which it considers is best calculated to further the interests of users of postal services, wherever appropriate by promoting effective competition between postal operators.
	The Government have commissioned Richard Hooper to lead an independent review of the postal services sector and how best to maintain the universal service. We will give careful consideration to all of the panel's recommendations when it reports later this year.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Jeremy Browne: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what Government funding streams are available to regional development agencies; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: The main sources of Government funding in 2007-08 for the nine English Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) are listed as follows.
	 Single Programme Budget
	Since April 2002, the RDAs have been financed through a Single Programme budget (the "Single Pot"). Money from the six contributing Departments (BERR, CLG, DIUS, DEFRA, DCMS and UKTI) is pooled into one single budget. The funding, once allocated, is available to the RDAs in order to achieve the regional priorities identified in their regional economic strategies and the challenging targets set by them in their Corporate Plans. In 2007-08, the Single Pot allocated funding of £2.3 billion to the nine English RDAs.
	 European Regional Development Fund
	The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was set up in 1975 to stimulate economic development in less prosperous regions of the European Union (EU). As EU membership has grown, ERDF has developed into a major instrument for helping to redress regional imbalances. Between 2007 and 2013, England will benefit from an investment of a further €3.2 billion (approximately £2.5 billion) of ERDF. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) manages ERDF in England and provides programme funding directly to the RDAs.
	 Rural Development Programme for England
	The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is a 7-year (2007-2013) EU programme that aims to safeguard and enhance the rural environment, improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors and foster competitive and sustainable rural businesses and thriving rural communities.
	The overall budget for the Programme is approximately £3.9 billion. Some £600 million of this will be made available for socio-economic schemes aimed at making agriculture and forestry more competitive and sustainable, enhancing opportunity and the quality of life in rural areas, and diversifying the rural economy. This part of the RDPE is being delivered primarily by the RDAs.
	 Business Resource Efficiency  and Waste Programme (BREW)
	In line with the landfill tax back to business commitment, the Spending Review 2004 (SR2004) announced that the additional revenues will be used to fund programmes to support business in improving its resource efficiency, including waste minimisation and diversion from landfill. The RDAs have been given the responsibility of co-ordinating the programme at regional level. In 2007-08, DEFRA has provided funding of £10.9m through the Single Pot to the RDAs in respect of their programme.
	 Northern Way Growth Fund
	The Northern Way is collaboration, formed in 2004, between the three Northern RDAs of England (North West RDA, Yorkshire Forward and One NorthEast). Its aim was to work together to improve the sustainable economic development of the North towards the level of more prosperous regions in the UK. In 2007-08, CLG provided funding of £25.8 million to the RDAs, this being the remaining contribution from Government toward the £100 million Northern Way Growth Fund. BERR is now the lead Government Department for the Northern Way Growth Fund.
	 Social Enterprise Business Support
	In the Social Enterprise Action Plan the Office of the Third Sector announced it would provide £5.9 million to RDAs to improve Business Link's capacity to broker business support for social enterprises.

Sales Methods

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what steps the Government has taken to protect consumers from aggressive selling techniques.

Gareth Thomas: holding answer 25 March 2008
	The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 will prohibit traders from engaging in unfair commercial practices, including aggressive selling techniques, towards consumers. A practice is considered aggressive if, through the use of harassment, coercion or undue influence, the average consumer's freedom of choice or conduct is significantly impaired, and this causes or is likely to cause him to take a different purchasing decision.
	The Regulations contain an illustrative list of factors to help determine whether a commercial practice uses harassment, coercion or undue influence.
	Draft Regulations, which implement the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive (2005/29/EC), were laid before Parliament on 3 March. If approved in debate they will come into force on 26 May.

Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many plasma television screens have been purchased by his Department, its predecessor and its agencies, and at what cost, in the last 24 months.

Gareth Thomas: Over the past 24 months, my Department and its agencies has purchased one plasma television screen at a cost of £4,497.24.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many people received education maintenance allowance in  (a) South Tyneside and  (b) England in each year since its inception.

Jim Knight: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) operate the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) and hold information about payments made under the scheme. Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive, has written to the hon. Member for Jarrow with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.

Pupil Exclusions

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the Answer of 19 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 1159-60W, on pupil exclusions, how many of the individuals recorded under the column  (a) number of fixed period exclusions, had previously been awarded a fixed period exclusion (i) one, (ii) two, (iii) three, (iv) four and (v) five times and  (b) number of permanent exclusions, had previously been excluded for a fixed period.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 26 March 2008
	The requested information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Summary findings on permanent and fixed period exclusions during the 2005/06 school year were published in a Statistical First Release on 26 June at:
	http://www.dfes.gov.uk/rsgateway/DB/SFR/s000733/index.shtml

Schools: Swimming

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many schools in  (a) St Albans,  (b) Hertfordshire and  (c) England offered swimming lessons to pupils in each of the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Kevin Brennan: Swimming activities and water safety is a compulsory element of the National Curriculum for physical education in primary schools. Swimming lessons should be provided for all pupils as part of this. Schools can choose swimming activities and water safety as a programme of study in secondary schools.
	The annual PE and School Sport Survey was introduced in 2003/04 and collects data relating to participation in PE and school sport from schools in a School Sport Partnership. The proportion of primary, secondary and special schools that offered swimming during the academic year over the last four years is as follows:
	
		
			  Percentage 
			   England  Hertfordshire  St. Albans 
			 2003/04 84  — 
			 2004/05 83  — 
			 2005/06 84 87 — 
			 2006/07 85 87 85 
		
	
	Further analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Digital Broadcasting: Visually Impaired

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many blind and partially sighted people were helped as part of the digital changeover in Cumbria.

Andy Burnham: The BBC is responsible for operating the digital switchover help scheme. The help scheme is given access to data on people who are registered as blind and partially sighted from local authorities so as to be able to contact them directly. The help scheme also commissioned the West Cumbria Society of the Blind to contact its members to ensure their awareness of the help scheme.
	Respondents who take up the help scheme are not required to inform the scheme as to the reason they are eligible or the nature of their disability, unless they wish to do so to aid it in delivering the service.
	I am therefore not able to supply the number of blind and partially sighted people who took up the help scheme in Cumbria.

Listed Buildings: Essex

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what his Department's role in conserving the Grade II listed building known as the State Cinema in Grays, Essex is; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 26 March 2008
	The role of my Department is to designate buildings of special architectural or historic interest by listing. Decisions about changes which affect their special interest are for the local planning authority, in consultation with English Heritage.
	This building, which is listed at grade II*, is included in the Buildings at Risk register maintained by English Heritage. English Heritage monitors its condition and had, in recent years, met with its owners who were considering converting this former cinema into a new use. English Heritage has also been approached by the Cinema Theatre Association, which is interested in the possibility of reviving its use as a venue for performance.

Performing Arts

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what support his Department and its agencies give to competitive cheerleading.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Increasing inter and intra-school sporting opportunities is a key component of the National PE and Sport Strategy for Young People, which is delivered jointly by the Department for Children Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	Since January 2008, the UK Cheerleading Association (UKCA) has been working in partnership with British Gymnastics to transfer their activities and become a new discipline of British Gymnastics.
	The UKCA is working with a number of School Sports Partnerships across the UK to develop cheerleading and 'street cheer' within school sport and dance. Together with other National Governing Bodies, the UKCA is helping to deliver the Government's PE and school sport strategy nationally, both by encouraging sustained participation and by providing leadership opportunities in schools and FE facilities.

Public Lending Right: Finance

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what the cost of the public lending right was in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what it is projected to be in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The public lending right (PLR) uses grant in aid funding from DCMS to make compensatory payments to authors for the financial impact of free book loans provided through the public library system.
	Provision for the running costs of the organisation are included within this grant in aid settlement, and are allocated by the PLR before the remaining sum is distributed annually to authors.
	Over the next three years, DCMS is committed to generating value for money (VFM) savings by delivering efficiencies in partnership with its sponsored bodies: the PLR has therefore agreed to deliver a 3 per cent. reduction in its administration costs in each of the years 2008-11 ensuring that the maximum possible percentage of the public funding received by the PLR is used to provide valuable financial support to authors.
	Costs to the Exchequer, in the form of total grant in aid allocated per annum; PLR administration spending for the period 1998-2008; and administration spending limits agreed with the PLR for the next three years are set out in the following table :
	
		
			  £ 
			   Total grant allocation  Administration spending  PLR to authors 
			 1997-98 4,921,000 673,000 4,248,116 
			 1998-99 5,000,000 841,000 4,158,527 
			 1999-2000 5,051,000 845,000 4,206,345 
			 2000-01 5,150,000 673,000 4,477,110 
			 2001-02 5,201,000 695,000 4,505,758 
			 2002-03 7,001,000 806,000 6,194,517 
			 2003-04 7,201,000 812,000 6,411,616 
			 2004-05 7,381,000 812,000 6,536,539 
			 2005-06 7,471,000 822,000 6,543,164 
			 2006-07 7,702,000 813,000 6,809,018 
			 2007-08 7,682,000 828,000 6,657,585 
			 2008-09 7,432,000 803,000 6,629,000 
			 2009-10 7,582,000 779,000 6,803,000 
			 2010-11 7,682,000 756,000 6,926,000

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence by whom each soldier killed during the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment/2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiments' recent operational tour in Helmand Province was replaced in the order of battle.

Bob Ainsworth: I will write to the hon. Member.
	 Substantive answer from Bob Ainsworth to Patrick Mercer:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 20W, about replacements for soldiers killed during the 1st Battalion The Worcestershire and Sherwood Foresters Regiment/2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment's recent operational tour in Helmand Province.
	As you are aware, I set out the Army's policy on battle casualty replacement in my answer to you on 7 January 2008,  Official Report, column 50W.
	Officials have spent some time examining your request and exploring potential ways of providing the information you seek, including discussions with the Unit. Unfortunately, however, this has proved impossible. Unlike in previous conflicts, our policy is not to identify individual replacements. Units are not, therefore, required to identify those individuals who replace colleagues who are injured or killed. Rapid replacement in theatre would in any event make this extremely difficult to track.
	I am placing a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received on the incident involving International Security Assistance Force and Afghan police in Lashkar Gah on 20th March 2008, which is being investigated by Royal Military Police.

Des Browne: holding answer 26 March 2008
	I have received an initial report regarding this incident, which is currently subject to investigation. It would be inappropriate to comment further while the investigation is continuing.

Aircraft Carriers

Richard Ottaway: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of security scenario planning in which the proposed aircraft carriers were deemed to be an essential part of the UK's response; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Future Carrier, as an integral part of the Carrier Strike capability contributes to a number of planning scenarios, the details of which I am withholding as their release would, or would be likely to, prejudice the defence of the United Kingdom. The 2004 "Future Capabilities" White Paper noted that aircraft carriers contribute to medium scale intervention and large scale operations, though they are a very flexible platform which also provides wider utility.

Armed Conflict: EC Action

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Treaty of Lisbon affects the UK's capacity to take unilateral military action.

Des Browne: No. The provisions on the Common Security and Defence Policy under the Lisbon Treaty do not change the fundamental nature of the Common Foreign and Security Policy under the current Treaty on European Union (TEU). Like under the TEU, individual member states will not be constrained from conducting their own foreign policy, including a decision to undertake unilateral military action.

Armed Forces: Public Transport

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will bring forward proposals for a scheme to enable members of HM Armed Forces to travel free on public transport when wearing uniform.

Bob Ainsworth: It would be inappropriate for the MOD to make any specific recommendations regarding free use of public transport for military personnel, as this is a matter for individual public transport providers.
	However, the Government are currently examining the wider issue of the provision of services to our armed forces personnel under the Service Personnel Command Paper and the nation's relationship with the armed forces under my hon. Friend the Member for Grantham and Stamford's (Mr. Davies) National Recognition study.

Armoured Fighting Vehicles

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent modifications have been made to the main armament of the Challenger II tank for training purposes.

Bob Ainsworth: There have been no recent modifications to the main armament of Challenger 2 (CR2). In June 2006 however, we brought into service a new Live Fire Crew Training System to provide realistic CR2 crew training using a removable barrel insert and smaller calibre rounds.

Army: Manpower

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the required strength of army officers is in each of the categories  (a) 1/(D),  (b) 1,  (c) 2,  (d) 3,  (e) 4,  (f) 5 and  (g) 6 to 9.

Bob Ainsworth: The categories you referred to are the NATO categorisations used to identify equivalent ranks across the armed forces. The current permanent liability (required strength) for Regular Army officers for each category is split between direct entry officers i.e. those who join the Army as officers, and late entry officers, who are promoted from the non-commissioned ranks:
	
		
			  NATO rank  Army rank  Direct entry  Late entry 
			 OF7+ Major General to General 64 — 
			 OF6 Brigadier 174 — 
			 OF5 Colonel 535 — 
			 OF4 Lieutenant Colonel 1,664 79 
			 OF3 Major 3,375 909 
			 OF2 Captain 3,331 1,569 
			 OF1 Second Lieutenant and Lieutenant 1,777 0 
			 OF1 (Des) — (1)660 
			 (1)OF1 (Des) are officers under training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.

AWE Aldermaston: Protest

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make arrangements to enable the making of peaceful protests at Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: The MOD recognises the democratic right of individuals to participate in lawful and peaceful protest activities. Such activities have taken place at AWE for many years, and there are well-rehearsed plans in place to ensure minimum disruption and to allow peaceful protests to occur. Safety and security at AWE are paramount. Any protestor action that could compromise these will always be dealt with appropriately. There were demonstrations at AWE as recently as 24 March and Thames Valley Police subsequently congratulated the organisers for organising an effective and peaceful demonstration.

EC Common Foreign and Security Policy

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements are planned for liaison between his Department and the office of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Des Browne: If the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU member states, the Ministry of Defence will liaise with the office of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security policy through our permanent and military representation to the European Union, as we currently do with the office of the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy.

Iran: Defence Equipment

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the financial value of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines' equipment which remains in the possession of the Iranian authorities.

Des Browne: The financial value of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines' equipment which remains in the possession of the Iranian authorities from the two incidents in 2004 and 2007 is approximately £500,000 in each case. This corrects the previous replacement costs I provided on 26 April 2007,  Official Report, column 1253W, to the hon. Members for Portsmouth, South (Mr. Hancock) and New Forest, East (Dr. Lewis) which included the estimated replacement coast of only one Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the armed forces were withdrawn from Iraq in each year since 2003, broken down by  (a) sex,  (b) age and  (c) service; what plans he has to increase members withdrawn in each of the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: During major combat operations in March-April 2003, there were some 46,000 UK military personnel committed to Op TELIC (including those stationed outside Iraq in support of the operation). Subsequently, the number of UK military posts in Iraq decreased to 18,000 by May 2003. Year on year troop reductions beyond that point are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  January each year  Approximate UK troop level  Reduction from previous year 
			 2004 8,500 (1)9,500 
			 2005 8,000 500 
			 2006 8,000 0 
			 2007 7,100 900 
			 2008 4,300 2,800 
			 (1) From May 2003 
		
	
	There are currently around 4,200 UK military personnel in Iraq, of which around 4,000 are based in southern Iraq. The actual number of UK military personnel in theatre varies significantly from day to day for a variety of reasons, including leave (rest and recuperation), temporary absence for training, evacuation for medical reasons, visits, the roulement of forces and other factors.
	Accurate information on the total number of personnel broken down by sex, age and service is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Work continues on the details of our future plans in consultation with our coalition partners and the Government of Iraq. For this reason, we are unable to provide a month-by-month projection for each of the next 12 months. Our plans will, of course, be guided by the advice of our military commanders and are subject to conditions on the ground.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people serving in the British forces in Iraq hold  (a) British citizenship and  (b) citizenship of countries other than Great Britain; and how many personnel there are of each nationality in the latter.

Des Browne: Data on the number and citizenship of service personnel serving in Iraq is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Reserve Forces

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the role is of formed units in the reserve forces; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Ainsworth: Reserves in formed units, such as Territorial Army (TA) Battalions and Regiments, and Royal Auxilliary Air Force Squadrons, are in most cases maintained to provide a framework which parallels their Regular equivalent, as over the years this has been shown as the most effective and robust method of providing a framework, upon which reservist capability can be recruited, grown, nurtured and trained.
	In the case of the TA, it is the basis from which capability can be deployed on operations. Where possible, the Army tries to deploy TA personnel in 'cohorts', groups drawn from units listed on the commitments forecast. However the current operational requirement dictates that TA capability is deployed variously as individual reinforcements, formed sub-units and only in some exceptional cases—particularly field hospitals—as formed units. For a large scale operation a greater proportion of the TA would be deployed as formed sub-units and units, albeit that the latter would still be the exception.
	For the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Squadrons are established for peacetime training purposes only. For the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marine Reserve, there are no units formed for operational deployment; they are administrative groupings only. Individuals, within them would deploy as reinforcements to other units.
	On 19 March 2008, the Secretary of State announced a review into our Reserve Forces. This will examine how the Reserve can be optimised to meet current and projected defence requirements.
	For the Royal Auxiliary Air Force, Squadrons are established for peacetime training purposes only. For the Royal Naval Reserve and Royal Marine Reserve, there are no units formed for operational deployment; they are administrative groupings only. Individuals, within them would deploy as reinforcements to other units.
	On 19 March 2008, the Secretary of State announced a review into our Reserve Forces. This will examine how the Reserve can be optimised to meet current and projected defence requirements.

Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Broxbourne, of 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 119W, on ministerial policy advisers 
	(1)  if he will provide figures for special advisers separately from the figures in the Annual Report of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments on Crown servants;
	(2)  which special advisers have  (a) received approval from and  (b) been refused by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments to take up an outside appointment on leaving office since May 2005.

Edward Miliband: Under the "Rules on the Acceptance of Outside Appointments by Crown Servants", the independent Advisory Committee on Business Appointments advises on the approval of applications from the most senior civil servants, including special advisers of equivalent standing. Once a new appointment has been taken up or announced, the Committee publishes information on the application and the advice it gave on it.
	Since May 2005, the Advisory Committee has published such information about the appointments of two Special Advisers: Jonathan Powell and Elizabeth Lloyd.
	Applications from civil servants, including special advisers, below these levels are dealt with by their employing departments.
	Departments provide collated data annually for publication in the statistical tables of the Advisory Committee's annual reports on the total number of applications they have received, including those subsequently referred to the Committee. These figures show the numbers that were approved unconditionally or approved subject to a condition.
	The Advisory Committee on Business Appointments does not intend to collect or publish any additional data on applications under the Rules.

Political Parties: Finance

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what criteria are used by the Electoral Commission in deciding whether to refer to the police late declarations of donations to regulated donees.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that, in deciding whether to refer to the police the late reporting of donations by regulated donees, it takes into account, in the first instance, the sufficiency of the evidence and, if that threshold is met, whether it is in the public interest to refer the matter, having due regard to the proportionality of the case.

Political Parties: Finance

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the reasons were for the referral by the Electoral Commission of the right hon. Member for Neath to the police for late declaration of donations.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that this matter is the subject of an ongoing police investigation. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment on it.

Political Parties: Finance

Fabian Hamilton: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what steps have been taken by the Electoral Commission in response to late declarations of donations by  (a) the right hon. Member for Sheffield Hallam and  (b) the hon. Member for Henley.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission informs me that, in line with its usual procedures, it has checked these donations for permissibility and has published the details on its website. It has also written to the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. Clegg) and the hon. Member for Henley (Mr. Johnson) regarding their failure to report these donations on time.

Agriculture: Waste Disposal

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government has to place a levy on the purchase of farm plastic.

Joan Ruddock: The Government have no plans to introduce a levy on farm plastics. However, we intend to consult on proposals to deliver a statutory producer responsibility scheme for the collection of non-packaging farm plastics in late spring 2008.

Climate Change

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will request the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to ensure that all bodies which submit scientific data to the panel publish their data correction methodologies; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The preparation of all IPCC reports and publications follows strict procedures (available on the IPCC website), and reviews by governments and experts are essential elements of the preparation of IPCC reports, commenting on the accuracy and completeness of the content and the overall balance of the drafts. Differing views for which there is significant scientific or technical support are clearly reflected in final IPCC documents.
	The IPCC does not commission research or undertake data analysis but reviews peer-reviewed scientific literature. As such, the process of ensuring data analysis and correction techniques are robust and available to the scientific community is not the responsibility of the IPCC but of the research community itself and the editors of the scientific journals that ultimately publish the body of research that informs the IPCC reviews.

Eaga

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what contracts there are between his Department and Eaga;
	(2)  how many complaints his Department has received about work carried out under the Warm Front Scheme.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA currently hold one contract with Eaga Plc, which is to perform the duties of Scheme Manager for the Warm Front Scheme.
	Between 1 June 2005 and 13 March 2008 the number of complaints received by Warm Front was 7,614 out of a total number of 600,000 households.
	2,870 of these complaints were upheld. This represents 0.48 per cent. of all households assisted.

Energy: Housing

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps his Department is taking to encourage owners of existing housing stock to improve their energy performance rating.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA is taking action to reduce emissions from housing through a number of initiatives such as Warm Front, the Energy Efficiency Commitment (the next phase of which will be called Carbon Emissions Reduction Target (CERT), the ActOnCO2 carbon calculator, and the Energy Savings Trust's Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme for Homes and their newly announced Green Homes Service.

Fisheries: Compensation

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps have been taken by his Department to provide for compensation to inshore fishermen whose fishing grounds are affected by the construction of offshore wind farms; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: Compensation is a commercial matter and not for Government intervention. Wind farm developers engage directly with local fishing associations to agree a fair compensation package where their proposed developments are likely to have an impact on local fishermen.
	Before any construction can commence however, wind farm developers have to obtain a range of licences and consents. These include a licence under the Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA) from the Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA).
	The MFA will assess the impact of the proposed development on local fishing grounds before deciding whether to issue a FEPA licence. If a licence is granted, it will include a range of conditions to protect the marine environment, including fisheries. Some of these will be site specific however, all licences stipulate that a suitably qualified Fisheries liaison officer is appointed to maintain effective communications between fishermen, the licence holder and contractors.

Seas and Oceans: Environment Protection

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1278W, which marine protected areas were not included in the list of areas provided but counted within the total of 180 sites reported in the Government's response to the Science and Technology Committee report Investigating the Oceans HC (2006-07) 470.

Jonathan R Shaw: The information provided to the Science and Technology Committee on around 180 marine protected areas differs from that given in the answer of 5 December 2007,  Official Report, column 1278W, because of ambiguity in the definition of what constitutes a 'marine' site.
	Habitats are considered to be 'marine' if they are covered (continuously or intermittently) by the sea. However, terrestrial sites can also be considered to have marine elements and interpretation of this criterion may lead to differences in reported figures.

Alternatives to Prison

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice who  (a) funds and  (b) runs community-based options for substance misuse as alternatives to custody sentences.

David Hanson: Combined funding from the Department of Health, Home Office and Ministry of Justice known as the pooled treatment budget (PTB) for drug treatment services is allocated annually to drug action team partnerships (DATs). Funding from PTB allocations is supplemented by mainstream funding from the national health service.
	The Ministry of Justice contribution (£22 million in the current financial year) pays for the treatment and testing required to deliver the drug rehabilitation requirement (DRR) which is the main delivery route for drug interventions within community sentences and is one of 12 requirements available as part of a community order. The overall sentence is supervised and delivered by the national probation service. The treatment is commissioned locally in partnership with the drug action teams (DATs) and is delivered by a range of voluntary and public sector treatment providers. The national probation service also delivers accredited cognitive behavioural programmes for substance misusers.
	Drug action teams receive additional funding—some £110 million in 2008-09—from the Home Office to support delivery of the Drug Interventions Programme (DIP). DIP works with drug misusing offenders to move them out of crime and into treatment. While the programme is not a formal alternative to custody its emphasis is on working with offenders, particularly in the community, from their earliest point of contact with the criminal justice system.

Courts: Security

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what minimum level of training is required for security staff in courts; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Security in courts is provided by designated court security officers, appointed by the Lord Chancellor who devolves this power to the Chief Executive of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS).
	The training requirements for court security officers is set out in the Court Security Officers (Designation) Regulations 2005 which were made by the Lord Chancellor exercising the powers conferred on him by section 51 of the Courts Act 2003.
	Under these regulations, before a person is designated as a court security officer, he must provide evidence that he has completed training courses in the following:
	 (a) the duties and powers of a court security officer;
	 (b) risk assessment;
	 (c) safe working practices;
	 (d) managing stress when dealing with threatening situations; and
	 (e) techniques for restraining a person and removing them from the building.
	In addition, security staff in courts are required to follow the guidance provided in the security policy document of Her Majesty's Courts Service: 'Safe and Secure'. This sets out the minimum standards for security in courts according to the function of the separate areas within each building.

Departmental Consultants

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much has been spent by his Department in 2007-08 on  (a) consultants and  (b) agency staff.

Maria Eagle: Expenditure with external consultants since the Ministry of Justice was established on 9 May 2007 is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, from April 2007 until September 2007, the former Department for Constitutional Affairs and those bodies that were formerly part of the Home Office and which are now part of the Ministry of Justice, spent £5.5 million on external consultants.
	The use of agency staff is devolved to separate business areas within the Ministry of Justice. The following table provides a breakdown of the most current figures held by organisation:
	
		
			  Organisation  Period  Value (£) 
			 Former DCA April 2007 to February 2008 10,600,000 
			 HM Prison Service April 2007 to February 2008 10,800,000 
			 NOMS April 2007 to December 2007 1,200,000 
			 OCJR April 2007 to January 2008 112,000

Departmental Data Protection

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether confidential or personal information has been compromised through the loss of property from his Department since 1997.

Michael Wills: Except in exceptional cases, when it is in the public interest, it has been the policy of successive governments not to comment on breaches of security. However, following the publication of the Data Handling Procedures in Government: Interim Progress Report on 17 December 2007,  Official Report, column 98WS, all Departments will cover information assurance issues in their annual reports.

Departmental Empty Property

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many vacant properties his Department owns; how many of these have been vacant for longer than  (a) three months,  (b) six months and  (c) 12 months; and what the value of each property is.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry owns one property that has been vacant for longer than three months, three that have been vacant for longer than six months and four that have been vacant for longer than 12 months. The estimated value of each property is set out as follows.
	
		
			  Value (£) 
			  Property  Vacant >3 months <6months  Vacant >6 months <12 months  Vacant >12 months 
			 1 200,000 — — 
			 2 — 600,000 — 
			 3 — 1,175,000 — 
			 4 — 235,000 — 
			 5 — — 360,000 
			 6 — — 2,004,400 
			 7 — — 800,000 
			 8 — — 182,000 
		
	
	All of the properties are non residential and are vacant awaiting sale. They are owned by Her Majesty's Court Service.
	In addition, the Prison Service owns residential properties. Numbers of vacancies vary but it is estimated to be between 25 and 30 at any one time and they are disposed of as soon as is practicable. Details of vacancies are not held centrally. Each individual prison establishment would need to be contacted to establish the exact number of vacancies which would be at a disproportionate cost to the Ministry.

Departmental Pensions

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what percentage of staff in his Department were making additional voluntary contributions to their pensions in each of the last two years.

Maria Eagle: The Ministry of Justice was created on 9 May 2007.
	In February 2007, 32,589 staff were employed in the former Department for Constitutional Affairs, including the Adjudicator to HM Land Registry (staff), the Judicial Appointments Commission and Legal Services Ombudsman. 175 staff were contributing to recognised Additional Voluntary Contribution, partnership and stakeholder pension schemes. This total represents 0.54 per cent. of employees.
	In February 2008, the Ministry of Justice, including HM Prison Service, the National Offender Management Service, Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, Youth Justice Board, Parole Board, Office of Criminal Justice Reform and National Probation Service employed 87,897 staff, of which 875 staff were contributing to recognised Additional Voluntary Schemes, partnership and stakeholder pension schemes. This total represents 0.99 per cent. of employees.

Marriage: Wales

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when legislative changes to eligibility for marriage in the Church of England will be implemented in Wales.

Michael Wills: Changes to the rules about where people can marry in the Church of Wales are a matter for that Church to propose. The Church in Wales is disestablished and a separate member of the Anglican Communion from the Church of England. Church of England Measures cannot extend to the Church in Wales.

Offenders: Employment Schemes

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much was spent on providing employment programmes for offenders  (a) in custody and  (b) serving community sentences in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding has been allocated for the provision of employment programmes for offenders  (a) in custody and  (b) serving community sentences for 2008-09, broken down by funding source; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: Improving the skills and employment outcomes for offenders is one of our key objectives for reducing re-offending, and our priorities for action are set out in the 'Reducing Re-Offending through Skills and Employment: Next Steps' plan. The Ministry of Justice works closely with the Departments for Innovation, Universities and Skills, and Work and Pensions to take this forward.
	We recently published a Prison Policy Update briefing paper which set out our intention to increase the range of employment programmes available to offenders inside prison. This will be done in partnership with the private, public and voluntary sectors, who generally fund the work or training programme delivered. Individual prisons may need to cover the cost of setting up the programme but this information is not held centrally.
	Similarly, offenders in the community are given opportunities to carry out unpaid work with private, public and voluntary sector employers. Probation areas may need to cover the costs of establishing the relationships with employers but this information is not held centrally.
	In addition to these links with employers, offenders have access to DWP programmes aimed at getting disadvantaged groups into employment such as New Deal and Progress2Work. Information about these programmes is offered via Jobcentre Plus advisers, including in prisons through their employment and benefit advisors.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how much was spent on providing resettlement programmes for offenders  (a) in custody and  (b) serving community sentences in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what funding has been allocated for the provision of resettlement programmes for offenders  (a) in custody an d (b) serving community sentences for 2008-09, broken down by funding source; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: The funding for the delivery of providing resettlement programmes is part of establishment baselines, therefore it is not possible to accurately disaggregate the cost of this work. Governors and area managers may allocate funds from their budgets to support local initiatives or partnerships with outside organisations or the voluntary sector to address particular needs however, this information is not recorded centrally.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much was spent on providing drug and alcohol treatment for offenders  (a) in custody and  (b) serving community sentences in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: Drug treatment funding allocated to prisons in England and Wales over the past 10 years is shown in the following table. Prison funding used specifically for alcohol treatment is not separated out from overall drug treatment funding.
	
		
			   Prison drug treatment( l)  (£ million) 
			 1989-99 (2)7.3 
			 1999-2000 12.6 
			 2000-01 16.5 
			 2001-02 27.3 
			 2002-03 28.7 
			 2003-04 37.7 
			 2004-05 51.1 
			 2005-06 60.7 
			 2006-07 78.1 
			 2007-08 79.8 
			 (1 )This includes clinical interventions (detoxification and maintenance prescribing), CARATs (Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare service), YPSMS (Young People's Substance Misuse Services) and intensive drug rehabilitation programmes.  (2) Indicative. 
		
	
	Some Primary Care Trusts supplement central allocations with some local funding for clinical services. However, this information is not recorded centrally.
	Provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders with drug misuse problems under the National Probation Service's supervision is primarily delivered through the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR), which has replaced the Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO). The Ministry of Justice contributes to the Pooled Treatment Budget to pay for the treatment and testing for these orders. Probation areas are also funded to provide the supervision and enforcement of these orders. Before the introduction of the DTTO in 2000, treatment and rehabilitation for drug misusing offenders was commissioned at the local probation area level and was not recorded centrally.
	Provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders with alcohol misuse problems under the National Probation Service's supervision is commissioned at the local probation area level and is not recorded centrally.
	A breakdown of funding for DTTOs/DRRs is shown in the following table. The treatment is commissioned locally in partnership with the DAT and is delivered by a range of voluntary and public sector treatment providers. We do not centrally record what proportion of each DATs budget is specifically spent on Drug Rehabilitation Requirements.
	
		
			  £ million 
			   Amount paid to pooled treatment budget to fund DTTO/DRR treatment and testing in England  Allocation to probation areas to fund DTTO/DRR supervision and enforcement costs in England and full DTTO/DRR costs in Wales 
			 2000-01 (1)20 
			 2001-02 14.8 21.2 
			 2002-03 20 16 
			 2003-04 29.7 24 
			 2004-05 (2)42 34 
			 2005-06 42 39 
			 2006-07 42 39 
			 2007-08 42 39 
			 (1) £20 million was made available to probation areas in England and Wales to fund DTTOs from October 2000 -March 2001 before the establishment of the Pooled Treatment Budget. (2) The contribution to the PTB includes £20 million permanent transfer to the Department of Health and an annual uplift of £22 million.

Offenders: Rehabilitation

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what funding has been allocated for the provision of drug and alcohol treatment for offenders  (a) in custody and  (b) serving community sentences for 2008-09, broken down by funding source; and if he will make a statement.

David Hanson: The following table shows indicative funding for prison drug treatment funding for 2008-09 by source. Figures may be subject to change.
	Some additional clinical drug treatment funding for prisons may be sourced locally by primary care trusts, but this information is not recorded centrally.
	Funding for alcohol treatment is not separated out from overall drug treatment funding.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Drug/Alcohol Treatment Intervention  Source  Allocation 2008-09 
			 Clinical Services (detoxification/maintenance prescribing) Primary Care Trusts (Department of Health) 35.7 
			 CARATs(l)/Drug Rehabilitation Programmes Ministry of Justice 51.1 
			 Young People's Substance Misuse Service (YPSMS) Ministry of Justice 4.3 
			 Total  91.1 
			 (1) Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare service. 
		
	
	Provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders with drug misuse problems under the National Probation Service's supervision is primarily delivered through the Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR), which has replaced the Drug Treatment and Testing Order (DTTO). The Ministry of Justice expects to contribute £22 million in 2008-09 to the Pooled Treatment Budget (PTB) (in addition to a £20 million permanent transfer to the Department of Health) to pay for the treatment and testing for these orders. Probation areas are also broadly expected to spend £39 million to provide the supervision and enforcement of these orders.
	For those offenders who are not sentenced to a specific drug misuse requirement as part of their community order, but who want or need to access treatment, referral to community drug services/clinical treatment is carried out on a voluntary basis. Offenders will have to access local treatment services on the same basis as the rest of the population and we do not centrally record the cost of each offender on the probation caseload who accesses treatment in this way.
	Provision for the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders with alcohol misuse problems under the National Probation Service's supervision is commissioned at the local probation area level and is not recorded centrally. In particular, probation areas ability to deliver alcohol treatment as part of a community sentence is largely dependent upon the nature and extent of provision commissioned by local primary care trusts (PCTs) as part of NHS provision. In addition, the Ministry of Justice will be making seed funding available to probation areas to identify, support and disseminate best practice in working with alcohol misusers, although the exact sum has yet to be finalised.

Prison Accommodation

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners were  (a) doubling up in cells designed for one and  (b) trebling up in cells designed for two on the latest date for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: At the end of February, 19,382 prisoners were reported as being doubled in cells certified to hold one person and 1,207 prisoners were reported as being trebled in cells certified to hold two people.

Prisoners: Dorchester Prison

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many prisoners at HMP Dorchester  (a) self-harmed,  (b) committed suicide and  (c) died of (i) natural and (ii) unnatural causes in each of the last 52 weeks for which figures are available.

Maria Eagle: Information about self-harm cannot be provided in the requested format. However there were an estimated 53 incidents of self-harm at HMP Dorchester in the last 52 weeks.
	There has been one death at HMP Dorchester in the last 52 weeks and that was self-inflicted.

Prisoners: Mentally Ill

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many and what proportion of the prison population have been held in  (a) NHS and  (b) independent sector mental healthcare places in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	The latest available statistics, as shown in the following table, show that the following numbers of prisoners were transferred from prison custody to hospital in the years between 1997 and 2006:
	
		
			   Number 
			 1997 746 
			 1998 739 
			 1999 731 
			 2000 662 
			 2001 635 
			 2002 644 
			 2003 722 
			 2004 831 
			 2005 834 
			 2006 894 
			  Source:  Ministry of Justice Statistical Bulletin. Statistics of Mentally Disordered Offenders 2006 England and Wales. 
		
	
	Figures are not available showing the breakdown between national health service and the Independent sector.

Prisoners: Mentally Ill

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what recent assessment the Department has made of the number and proportion of the prison population with one or more mental health condition, broken down by condition; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: I have been asked to reply.
	A survey, 'Psychiatric Morbidity among Prisoners in England and Wales' (Office for National Statistics (ONS), 1997) showed that 90 per cent., of prisoners have at least one significant mental health problem, including personality disorder, psychosis, neurosis, alcohol misuse and drug dependence.
	Although the 1997 ONS study is now quite old, it is still regarded as an accurate reflection of the situation today.

Prisoners: Personal Records

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1118-19W, on prisoners: personal records, what records his Department holds on the average length of time taken for a prisoner's full records to be received by the prison of destination following transfer.

Maria Eagle: Information is not held centrally on the time it takes for these records to transfer from one prison to another; but the principle is that the form travels with the prisoner's escorting officer and so the transfer should be immediate.

Re-offenders: Research

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) undertaken into the relationship between prison regimes and re-offending rates; and if he will publish such research.

David Hanson: No specific research has been commissioned to investigate the relationship between aspects of prison regimes and re-offending. However, the latest available re-offending data, for the 2004 cohort of adult prisoners discharged from custody, shows that re-offending decreased by 4.6 per cent. between 2000 and 2004 after controlling for changes in offender characteristics. Re-offending behaviour can be influenced by not just the programmes run in prisons, but also the work of probation services and other partners once the offender has been released, as well as a wider range of socio-economic factors.

Discrimination

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many claims for discrimination, based on  (a) sex,  (b) race and  (c) sexual orientation, were brought by members of his Department and settled (i) in and (ii) out of court in each of the last five years.

Shaun Woodward: There were five cases brought against the Northern Ireland Office Core Department by its staff settled during the time specified. Four cases were on grounds of sex; two in 2004-05, one in 2006-07 and one in 2007-08. There was one case on grounds of race in 2003-04. All cases were settled out of court. There were no cases during this period based on sexual orientation.
	The NIO has procedures in place for dealing with complaints of discrimination and the majority of complaints brought by staff will be dealt with under these procedures without recourse to Tribunals.
	In accordance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, all personnel policies affecting staff are screened to ensure that they do not have an adverse affect on any of the nine groups specified under the legislation, which include gender, race and sexual orientation. In addition, NIO staff receive training on avoiding discriminatory behaviour in the workplace, including on the basis of gender, race and sexual orientation. Until recently, this took the form of mandatory equal opportunities awareness training for new staff as part of their induction. This has been replaced by a new diversity course which is currently being rolled out to the whole Department.

Drugs: Sentencing

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons are serving a custodial sentence for  (a) drug and  (b) alcohol related offences, broken down by (i) age, (ii) sex and (iii) offence.

Paul Goggins: Table 1 gives the total number of sentenced prisoners currently in prison in Northern Ireland as at 19 March 2008, where the main sentence being served is for a drugs related offence. Table 1 has been split to provide the age group and gender breakdown of these prisoners.
	Tables 2 and 3 give a separate breakdown for males and females by age group and the individual drug related offences for which they have been sentenced. It should be noted that since individual prisoners may have been sentenced for multiple drug offences, the total numbers referred to in Tables 2 and 3 reflect the number of individual offences rather than individual prisoners sentenced.
	The Prison Service database does not record information on the number of prisoners in custody on alcohol related offences.
	
		
			  Table 1: Sentenced prisoners in custody in Northern Ireland on 19 March 2008, where the main sentence being served is for a drugs related offence, broken down by age group and gender 
			   Age  
			   16-20  21-25  26-30  31 -35  36-40  4  -45  46-50  51+  Total 
			 Male 2 3 17 10 9 8 2 5 56 
			 Female 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Total 2 3 18 11 9 8 2 5 58 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Drug related sentences being served by male prisoners in custody( 1)  in Northern Ireland on 19 March 2008, broken down by age group 
			   Age  
			   16-20  21 -25  26-30  31 -35  36-40  41-45  46-50  51+  Total 
			 Attempted possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply — — — — — — — 1 1 
			 Being concerned in supply of a controlled drug — — — 1 — — — — 1 
			 Conspiracy to supply class A drugs — — — — 2 — — — 2 
			 Conspiracy to possess drugs — — — — 1 — — — 1 
			 Cultivating cannabis — — 1 2 — 1 — — 4 
			 Exporting controlled drugs — — — — — — 1 — 1 
			 Fraud exporting class C controlled drugs — — — — — 2 — — 2 
			 Fraud importing class A controlled drugs — — — — 1 1 — 1 3 
			 Importing controlled drugs — — — 1 — — — — 1 
			 Possession of class A controlled drug with intent to supply — 4 10 3 5 2 2 3 29 
			 Possession of class B controlled drug with intent to supply — 1 3 — — 1 1 1 7 
			 Possession of class C controlled drug with intent to supply 1 — 12 1 3 3 2 1 23 
			 Possession of class A controlled drugs 1 3 6 5 3 2 5 3 28 
			 Possession of class B controlled drugs — — 3 1 1 1 2 1 9 
			 Possession of class C controlled drugs — 2 9 3 6 1 2 1 24 
			 Producing class C controlled drugs — — 1 — — — — — 1 
			 Supplying class A controlled drugs — 2 — 4 1 1 1 2 11 
			 Supplying class C controlled drugs — 1 1 1 — 1 — — 4 
			 Total 2 13 46 22 23 16 16 14 152 
			 (1) This relates solely to prisoners where the main offence being served is for a drugs related offence. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Drug related sentences being served by female prisoners in custody( 1)  in Northern Ireland on 19 March 2008, broken down by age group 
			   Age  
			   16-20  21-25  26-30  31-35  36-40  41-45  46-50  51+  Total 
			 Importing controlled drugs — — 1 — — — — — 1 
			 Possession of class A controlled drug with intent to supply — — — 1 — — — — 1 
			 Total — — 1 1 — — — — 2 
			 (1) This relates solely to prisoners where the main offence being served is for a drugs related offence.

Foreign Workers

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what estimate he has made of the number of migrant workers in Northern Ireland; and how many employers have been  (a) cautioned and  (b) prosecuted for paying migrant workers less than the minimum wage since its introduction.

Paul Goggins: Following restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly on 8 May 2007, employment matters have been the responsibility of the devolved administration. I therefore do not hold statistics on the number of migrant workers in Northern Ireland.
	However, enforcement throughout the UK of the national minimum wage is the responsibility of HM Revenue and Customs on behalf of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	The number of employers in Northern Ireland who have been found to have underpaid workers since 1 April 2001 is set out in the following table. It is not possible to identify how many of these relate to migrant workers and this information could be provided only at disproportionate expense.
	
		
			  Number of employers in Northern Ireland found to have been underpaying the national minimum wage 
			 2001-02 244 
			 2002-03 213 
			 2003-04 218 
			 2000-05 204 
			 2005-06 170 
			 2006-07 140 
			 2007-08 118

Olympic Games 2012: Environment Protection

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent steps the Government has taken to minimise the undesirable effects on the environment of the 2012 Olympics.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 26 March 2008
	 In the London 2012 Sustainability Plan, "Towards a One Planet 2012", published in November 2007, the Olympic Board sets out how it intends to achieve a sustainable games for each of the build, staging and legacy phases. For example, the design of the Olympic Park will minimise water use, carbon emissions and the impacts of climate change.
	This year, the ODA will publish a Biodiversity Action Plan which will consider key issues including minimising and mitigating the impact of 2012 development activity, creating new habitats and protecting sensitive species.

Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister for the Olympics whether 2012 Olympic competitions which involve handguns will be staged in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 March 2008
	 Following consultation, the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in London was selected as the venue for all the shooting events at the games. The advantage of this venue is that it is close to the Olympic Park and Village which will improve the athlete and spectator experience by limiting travel and making it easier to attend other games events on the same day in the Olympic Park.

Olympic Games 2012: Gun Sports

Andrew MacKinlay: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what consideration she has given to the location of  (a) training facilities and  (b) competitions for handgun shooting as part of the 2012 Olympics; whether primary legislation is required to facilitate handgun (i) training and (ii) competition in preparation for and as part of the 2012 Olympics; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 25 March 2008
	 Following consultation, the Royal Artillery Barracks at Woolwich in London was selected as the competition venue for all the shooting events at the games.
	The London Organising Committee's Pre-Games Training Guide to be published at the Beijing Games identifies a number of high quality shooting facilities throughout the United Kingdom where air pistol target shooting can be undertaken.
	There is no need for primary legislation. It has already been agreed in principle to use the existing powers in section 5 of the Firearms Act 1968 to allow a small number of potential Olympic pistol shooters to practise on Ministry of Defence ranges in Great Britain ahead of the London Olympics. The same powers will be used to enable pistol shooting disciplines to be held as part of the games.

Olympic Games 2012: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Henley of 10 December 2007,  Official Report, column 47W, on Olympic Games 2012: training, when the National Construction Skills Academy project on the Olympic Park will be established; and when she expects the first apprentice to qualify from the project.

Tessa Jowell: The ODA was granted the status of National Skills Academy for Construction (NSAfC) in November 2007 and the Plant Training Centre, which is part of the NSAfC, opened at the end of December 2007. The academy was formally launched with ODA's Employment and Skills Strategy on 19 February 2008.
	To date 57 people have passed the theory and practical test at the Plant Training Centre. Each of these now needs to complete further training in employment to consolidate their full NVQ level 2 qualification. It is expected that this will be completed by September this year for the earlier graduates from the centre.
	Details of the level 3 (electricians) apprenticeships are still being finalised with the relevant Skills Council. The first group of adult apprenticeships is expected to start in September 2008. These people, who are already at level 2, will take a further two years in college and in employment training to qualify, and will complete in autumn 2010. The first group of 16 to 24-year-old apprenticeships is also due to start in September 2008 on a full four year apprenticeships ending in autumn 2012.

Olympic Games 2012: Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Minister for the Olympics pursuant to the Answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1298W, on Olympic Games 2012: expenditure, what the  (a) cost and  (b) purpose of each of the 19 projects is.

Tessa Jowell: The Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) requires approval for expenditure on projects valued over £20 million and for those projects that are novel or contentious regardless of value. Of the 19 projects approved to date, gross cost estimates (including VAT) are provided below for nine of those projects:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 Olympic Stadium 496 
			 Logistics 337 
			 Enabling Works 364 
			 Stratford Regional Station 119 
			 Contribution to North London Line 110 
			 Contribution to DLR Upgrade 86 
			 ODA Insurance Programme 50 
			 Thornton's Field Relocation 47 
			 Contribution to Prescott Channel Control Structure 5 
		
	
	Details of cost estimates for the ODA delivery partner, CLM, will be included in the next ODA annual report scheduled for publication in summer 2008.
	The remaining approved projects are in contract negotiation or subject to statutory process and, therefore, cost information remains commercially sensitive at the present time.

Olympic Games 2012: Training

Harry Cohen: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what percentage of training the Olympic Delivery Authority plans to offer to young people in London in construction will be to  (a) NVQ level 2 and  (b) NVQ level 3.

Tessa Jowell: Around 2,000 trainees are expected to be on the Olympic site over the period of construction and between 85 per cent. and 90 per cent. of these (1,700 to 1,800) are likely to be NVQ level 2. The exact number of trainees and apprenticeships will be agreed by the National Skills Academy for Construction Partnership Board as part of the on-going process of establishing the training plan.
	The ODA strategy is focused on getting people into work and then onto the first level of training. The initial forecasts of the skill requirements for the Olympic site indicate that the requirement will be mainly civil engineering and construction skills rather than the traditional building craft skills.
	Accordingly it is currently expected that the vast majority of the trainee places will be NVQ level 2 and a minority at level 3. In addition there will be a significant proportion of level 3 trainees/apprenticeships on the Olympic Village.

Departmental Advertising

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which of her Department's initiatives and those of its predecessors have been advertised to the public in each of the last 10 years; and what the cost of each such campaign was.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Expenditure for the Department's advertising campaigns from the 2002-03 fiscal year, when the Department for Transport was formed, is in the following table.
	The majority of campaign advertising investment by the Department is in support of the "THINK!" road safety and the "Act on CO2" campaigns. Major advertising investment by Executive Agencies has been by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, to explain changes to the car tax rules.
	Following departmental reorganisations, total expenditure figures for prior to 2002-03 fiscal year would involve disproportionate costs.
	
		
			  Department  Campaign  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 DfT THINK! (£ million) 9.5 10.3 8.75 11.57 9.2 
			  Transport Direct (£000) — — 240 865 405 
			  Act on CO2 (£ million) — — — — 3.59 
			
			 DVLA Sale of Marks (£ million) 2.032 2.149 2.534 2.335 3.006 
			  VED Enforcement(*) (£ million) 2.921 8.630 5.961 4.165 5.596 
			  Accelerated Issue of Harmonised Registration Certificate (£ million) — — 1.424 1.211 — 
			  Mandatory V5 (log book) (£ million) 3.755 1.144 — — — 
			  Others (£000) 695 1,886 1,026 677 799 
			
			 HA Introduction of Traffic Officer Service (£000) — — — 330 — 
			
			 MCA Dial 999 for the Coastguard (£000) 8.5 8.5 9.1 15.5 9.9 
			
			 VGA n/a — — — — — 
			 VOSA n/a — — — — — 
			
			 DSA Passplus/other advertising (£000) Nil 76 32 15 148

Departmental Pensions

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the trades unions representing staff in her Department requested the health and standard rules in respect of Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme ill-health benefits to be changed; what her Department's response was; and when this response was made.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The trade unions wrote to the Department of Transport on 23 May 2007. Unfortunately, a formal response was not sent until 20 March 2008 due to an oversight. Changes to the pension scheme rules relating to ill-health benefits were applied in the Department in 2007.

Departmental Responsibilities

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what  (a) reviews,  (b) consultation and  (c) taskforces the Department is (i) responsible for and (ii) scheduled to undertake; on what date each such initiative that is underway (A) started and (B) is expected to be completed; and what the purpose is of each.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport undertakes extensive engagement with a wide range of stakeholders.
	The readily available information relating to ad hoc reviews, groups and taskforces is summarised as follows:
	 Reviews
	 Forthcoming: Road Safety Strategy after 2010
	Started: Early 2008
	Completed: Mid 2009
	Purpose: Development of new road safety strategy after 2010.
	The Department is currently contributing to the cross-government review on data security announced by the Prime Minister on the 21 November 2007.
	 Groups
	Eddington Friends
	Started: May 2005
	Completed: Contract due to cease December 2008 (possibility of extension).
	Purpose: Quarterly meeting of academics, original purpose was to advice on progress of the Eddington Study. Since completion of the study have been considering other analytical issues.
	 Access to Air Travel working Group
	Started: June 2007
	Completion: July 2008
	Purpose: Informal group of industry representatives to review the code of practice "Access to Air Travel for Disabled People".
	 Compliance Stakeholder Group
	Started: 28 May 2004
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: The CSG seeks to involve stakeholders in the work being undertaken by the SSDL Group to develop a programme of measures aimed at improving the compliance of all drivers and vehicles and reducing vehicle related crime.
	 Road Safety Advisory Panel
	Started: July 2000
	Completed: Ongoing
	Purpose: Advises on casualty reduction targets to be delivered in 2010. Representation on it will be reviewed every three years. Group membership is more akin to an internal committee than an external body.
	 Aviation Fuel Task Group
	Started: June 2007
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: A joint Government industry group, jointly chaired by DfT and BERR, looking at strategic short, medium and long term fuel demand and supply issues.
	 External Advisory Group
	Started: September 2004
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: Chaired by the Department for Transport's Director of Airports Strategy, made up of representatives from industry (airports, airlines, freight carriers), environmental organisations and other interest groups.
	The role of the BAG is to maintain a formal channel of communication between the DfT and key external stakeholders on airport-related issues. EAG meetings provide an opportunity for all members to share information and exchange views as part of the Air Transport White Paper implementation programme.
	 Disruptive Passenger Working Group
	Started: November 1998
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: To advise Ministers on measures to minimise the frequency and potential impact of disruptive behaviour on board aircraft. The Group, chaired by the Department includes participants from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the Association of Chief Police Officers, the British Air Transport Association, the UK Flight Safety Committee, the Board of Airline Representatives in the UK, and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
	A key action from the Group was establishing a standardised reporting scheme to monitor incidents of unruly behaviour on board UK aircraft and to assess what action was required to address such behaviour. This information is collated by the CAA and published on the Department website. Latest statistics will be published on 6 December 2007. Previous statistics can be viewed at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/hci/db/disruptivebehaviouronboarduk1056
	 Aviation Health Working Group
	Started: March 2001
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: Set up in response to the House of Lords Select Committee Inquiry into Air Travel and Health, and provides a forum at which Government and industry stakeholders discuss and advice Ministers on aviation health issues. The Group meets quarterly and includes a smaller Research-Sub Group which meets when required. Membership includes OGDs, CAA, interested industry representatives. The Group invites presentations from other parties as necessary. The Group's mission statement agreed in 2001 is to:
	Provide a forum for interested Government Departments and Agencies to consider issues relevant to aviation health;
	Provide an interface with the air transport industry, health experts and other interested parties on aviation health issues of mutual interest;
	Evaluate the need for research into issues related to air travel and health, and consider the role of Government in supporting such research;
	Ensure Ministers are kept informed and receive comprehensive advice on aviation health matters;
	Monitor developments that impinge on the health of those travelling by air."
	Minutes of meetings are placed on the DfT website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/aviation/hci/ahwg/minutes/
	 Maritime Statistics Advisory Group
	Started: 23 October 2007
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: Standing group to advise DfT on maritime statistics development.
	 Concessionary Fares Working Group
	Started: 2005
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: Comprises local authority and operator representatives and provides advice on the implementation of the statutory bus concession.
	 Low Carbon Fuels Partnership
	Started: January 2003
	Completion: Ongoing
	Purpose: The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership was established in 2003 with the mission of accelerating a sustainable shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and thereby stimulating opportunities for the UK. The Partnership aims to achieve this mission by: facilitating membership initiatives; providing policy support to Government Departments and others; and undertaking research to improve understanding.
	 Consultations
	Information on consultations is published on the 10 Downing Street website at:
	www.pm.gov.uk
	All current DfT consultations can be found on the website at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/
	Information on DfT Agencies and NDPBs can be found at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/how/ndpb/departmentfortransportannual1024

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Data Protection

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if she will take steps to prevent the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency from passing drivers' personal details to commercial third parties without permission in any circumstances; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Information held on the DVLA's driver register is only released to commercial companies with the explicit consent of the data subject. Data is only released on the Car Hire Line (0906 139 3837) providing the driver is present and verbally confirms consent, or has already telephoned and left permission that has been recorded on the drivers record. There are no plans to change this position.
	Vehicle keeper information is released from DVLA's vehicle register where there is a statutory provision to do so. This includes anyone who can demonstrate a 'reasonable cause' for requesting that information.

Driving Standards Agency: Data Protection

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what mechanisms have been put in place to prevent future data losses by the Driving Standards Agency; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: I refer the hon. Member to the statement of 17 December 2007,  Official Report, columns 626-6, by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, on measures to improve the security of personal data.
	The following measures have been put in place to prevent future data losses by the Driving Standards Agency and its contractors:
	Following identification of the loss in Iowa, immediate measures were introduced to secure bulk transfers of data through use of point to point delivery or secure courier where appropriate.
	A review of all transfers of data was instigated. This is due to be completed shortly.
	Reminders of current procedures (where still appropriate) and new instructions concerning handling of data were communicated to all Driving Standards Agency staff in the form of email, and messages on the Agency's intranet.
	The data, held by NCS Pearson for the purpose of the backup of DSA data, and referred to in the Secretary of State's statement of 17 December 2007, are now transferred electronically rather than on hard disc.
	Further, additional security measures such as CCTV and reduced staff access have been instigated at NCS Pearson's premises in Iowa, USA.
	A data protection audit is currently in progress. This covers assessment of all Pearson's data handling and storage procedures, including the use of primary and secondary back ups to ensure that all the design, procedural and process safeguards are in place.

Speed Limits

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent representations she has received on the maximum speed limit for  (a) a single carriageway road and  (b) a dual carriageway road which has been permanently constricted to a single carriageway for a set distance.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 25 March 2008
	The Department has, from time to time, received representations from interested parties requesting information on the maximum speed limit for dual carriageways, including dual carriageways constricted to a single carriageway.
	The maximum speed limit for cars on a single carriageway road is 60 mph. The maximum speed limit for cars on a dual carriageway is 70 mph.
	If a dual carriageway constricts to a single carriageway, the speed limit will reduce from 70 mph to 60 mph, unless signs indicate otherwise.
	If a dual carriageway is reduced to a single lane of traffic in each direction, the 70 mph speed limit will still apply unless signs indicate otherwise.

Discrimination: Special Educational Needs

James McGovern: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases have  (a) been brought under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Discrimination Act 2001 and  (b) been ruled unlawful confirming that less favourable treatment has taken place; and how many of these cases have been brought against universities.

Bridget Prentice: I have been asked to reply.
	The number of claims of disability discrimination made in England and Wales dealt with by special educational needs (SEN) and disability tribunals are detailed in the following table.
	
		
			  Claims and outcomes at SENDIST from 2002-07 
			   Claims  Decided  Upheld  Dismissed 
			 2002-03 79 14 3 11 
			 2003-04 83 71 23 48 
			 2004-05 78 56 22 34 
			 2005-06 128 57 21 36 
			 2006-07 119 85 36 49 
			 2007-dec 60 30 16 14 
		
	
	None of the claims in the table includes cases against universities, which are not covered by SENDIST tribunal jurisdiction.
	Higher education institutions such as universities are independent autonomous organisations who are responsible for ensuring that their policies and practices fully comply with disability discrimination legislation. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills does not hold any information centrally on the number of cases brought against universities in respect of this legislation.
	In Scotland, claims of unlawful disability discrimination in relation to school education are brought as civil proceedings in the sheriff court. Such data is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	Universities in respect of this legislation.
	In Scotland, claims of unlawful disability discrimination in relation to school education are brought as civil proceedings in the sheriff court. Such data is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

New Deal Schemes: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those participants have taken part in  (a) the new deal for young people,  (b) new deal 25 plus,  (c) new deal 50 plus,  (d) new deal for lone parents,  (e) new deal for disabled people,  (f) new deal for parents in West Lancashire constituency have (i) entered employment and (ii) entered sustainable employment.

Stephen Timms: The available information is in the following table.
	
		
			  New deal in Lancashire West 
			  Programme  Individual starts  Of which :  into employment  Of which :  into sustained employment 
			 New deal for young people 2,220 1,550 1,330 
			 New deal 25 plus 1,060 400 320 
			 New deal 50 plus 140 (1)100  
			 New deal for lone parents 1,610 1,160 690 
			 New deal for disabled people 460 250  
			 New deal for partners 20 10  
			 (1) Information in the table for new deal 50 plus is from January 2004 when data for starts to the programme first became available. The total number of people who have been helped into work through new deal 50 plus since April 2000 in West Lancashire is 370.  Notes: 1. Information on sustained jobs for new deal for disabled people is not available at parliamentary constituency level. 2. A definition of sustainability is not available for new deal 50 plus and new deal for partners. 3. A job obtained through new deal for young people and new deal 25 plus is defined as sustained if no return to jobseeker's allowance is made within 13 weeks of a person leaving these new deals. For new deal for lone parents, a sustained job is a job recorded as lasting at least 13 weeks as measured through the Work and Pensions longitudinal study. 4. Information at parliamentary constituency level for new deal for partners is only available from April 2004. 5. Starts and jobs data in the table for all new deals is to may 2007 to provide comparative starts and jobs data. Data for starts is available to August 2007 and data for jobs to May 2007. 6. Programme start dates are: New deal for young people: January 1998; New deal 25 plus: July 1998; New deal for lone parents: October 1998; New deal for partners: April 1999; New deal 50 plus: April 2000; New deal for disabled people: July 2001. 7. Data is rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: DWP Information Directorate

New Deal Schemes: Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those participants who have taken part in  (a) the new deal for young people,  (b) new deal 25 plus,  (c) new deal 50 plus,  (d) new deal for lone parents,  (e) new deal for disabled people and  (f) new deal for parents in West Lancashire constituency in each month since inception.

Stephen Timms: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Wikipedia

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 2806-7W, on Wikipedia, how many Wikipedia entries have been  (a) created and  (b) amended from IP addresses from the central pool.

Anne McGuire: The Department of Work and Pensions does not have a policy of regularly monitoring updates made to Wikipedia from DWP IP addresses. Therefore the Department would not as a matter of course determine Wikipedia entries that have been created or amended. The cost of obtaining and analysing such data could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Festivals and Special Occasions

Dawn Butler: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to mark Saint George's Day on 23 April 2008.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport issue the guidance for flying flags on Government buildings. This includes recommending flying the St. George's flag on St. George's day on 23 April on buildings with two or more flag poles, provided it is flown alongside the Union flag with the Union flag in the superior position.
	Two of CLG's HQ buildings, Eland House and Ashdown House, have a second flag pole, and the St. George's flag will be flown on these to celebrate St. George's day.
	The Secretary of State has also written to the Local Government Association urging them to encourage all local authorities to think about how they might mark St. George's day in their own area.

Higher Education

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress the task force on studentification has made; and which higher education sector bodies have been involved in the taskforce.

Iain Wright: We have commissioned researchers to undertake a short evidence-gathering exercise to identify a range of planning and non-planning measures that could help to create and maintain balance in areas of high student population. The researchers will present the emerging findings of this work to invited participants at a seminar on 9 April. We have invited representatives of local planning authorities, residents groups, the national HMO lobby, universities, landlords, and interested charities to the seminar. Their contribution will assist in formulating the way forward on this issue. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills will also be represented. External bodies invited to participate in the seminar include Universities UK, the Guild of Higher Education, Unipol, the College and University Business Officers and individual universities.

China: Olympic Games

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government plans to take if there is political violence in China when the 2008 Olympics take place.

Meg Munn: Our embassy in Beijing has a country contingency plan which will be implemented in the event of a crisis which endangers British nationals, and those we have consular responsibility for in China, during the 2008 Olympics.

Departmental Complaints

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the budget for his Department's grievances and counter-narrative team was in each year since it was established; how much the team spent on external consultants in each year; how many  (a) full-time and  (b) part-time staff work in the team; and when the team was established.

Kim Howells: holding answer 20 March 2008
	The Grievances and Counter Narrative team was established in December 2007 following the restructuring of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Counter Terrorism Department.
	The team has not completed its first year so no figures for annual expenditure yet exist. The number of people working in the team varies, but has not dropped below six full-time staff. It has not hired any external consultants.

Iran: Elections

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Iran on its decision to prevent reformist candidates from standing in the recent elections.

Kim Howells: The UK strongly supports the EU presidency statement of 15 March 2008 which said that the recent parliamentary elections in Iran were 'neither free nor fair' and that 'the Iranian people deserve a genuine democratic choice about their country's future'. We were deeply disappointed that Iran's Interior Ministry and Guardian Council disqualified over a third of all prospective candidates who registered to stand, including a large proportion of reformist candidates. This denied the Iranian electorate their right to choose from candidates representing the full range of political views in their country and make a genuine democratic choice about how they are governed. We do not wish to take sides in Iran's internal debates, but together with the EU we will continue to stand up for the internationally recognised principles to which many Iranians aspire including freedom of speech and transparent, genuinely democratic and accountable government.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 17 March 2008,  Official Report, columns 865-6W, on Simon Mann, whether an explanation has now been given by the Equatorial Guinean authorities; and what action he intends to take.

Meg Munn: holding answer 25 March 2008
	The Equatorial Guinean authorities have told us that Simon Mann is shackled because they deem him to be a terrorist suspect and therefore a high security risk.
	We do not believe this is a reasonable position for the authorities to take and we have been taking a number of welfare points forward with the authorities, including the fact that Mr Mann is shackled and handcuffed. We will continue to follow these up.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 28 February 2008,  Official Report, columns 1822W, on Simon Mann, what action has been taken in following up the specific consular and welfare concerns referred to; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 25 March 2008
	We have raised specific consular and welfare concerns regarding Simon Mann with the Equatorial Guinean authorities. Our ambassador to Equatorial Guinea, resident in Abuja, met President Obiang on 6 March and raised Mr Mann's welfare. We will continue to follow these issues up with the Equatorial Guinea authorities.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he intends to take in the week beginning 24 March to monitor the  (a) treatment and  (b) risk of torture of Mr Simon Mann in Black Beach Prison, Equatorial Guinea; and what procedures are in place to ensure that any inhumane treatment of this prisoner is brought to his attention.

Meg Munn: holding answer 25 March 2008
	 Our consul from the British deputy high commission in Lagos was refused consular access to Simon Mann during his last visit to Equatorial Guinea in March. We have expressed our concern to the Equatorial Guinea authorities and are urgently seeking another consular visit. The authorities have offered assurances that Mr. Mann will be treated well while in detention, but we have made our concerns clear regarding his shackling. His welfare remains our primary concern.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent steps the Government have taken to improve healthcare services for those with alcohol addiction.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2005 and 2006, we published guidance for local health organisations and their partners, to support delivery and improvement of local programmes for alcohol misuse interventions, 'Alcohol Misuse Interventions: Guidance on developing a local programme of improvement and Models of care for alcohol misusers'.
	To test out the best ways to identify and provide advice to people who are drinking more than is good for them, the Department has commissioned a programme of trailblazers to pilot identification and brief advice that is under way in general practitioner (GP) practices, accident and emergency departments and in Probation departments, in 57 locations.
	We have put in place a new national health service indicator to measure the change in the rate of hospital admissions for alcohol related harm from April 2008the first ever national commitment to monitor how the NHS is tackling alcohol health harms.
	This indicator is expected to encourage primary care trusts (PCTs) to invest in earlier identification of people who drink too much, linked to advice and support from GPs or other health care staffshown to be the best way of reducing the kind of everyday drinking which over time leads to liver disease and other problems, including dependency.
	Since 2007-08 we have provided PCTs with an extra 15 million of additional funding to improve alcohol interventions. The National Audit Office will carry out an audit of NHS spend on alcohol interventions and specialist treatment, with a report expected this autumn.
	Over the next three years, the Government will be actively supporting the full implementation of the published guidance, 'Substance Misuse in the Undergraduate Medical Curriculum'.
	This major development will, over the next 10 years, ensure around 60,000 new doctors leaving medical training in England will be able to deliver competent practice in both drug and alcohol misuse, includingas a crucial priority for implementationthe recognition and the management of risky and harmful alcohol consumption.
	We have allocated 650,000 in 2008-09 for the developmental work medical schools will need to carry out, to embed such an integrated substance misuse curriculum into core teaching and training programmes.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions she has had with police forces on alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 31 January 2008
	 The Home Secretary has not had any recent meetings specifically on antisocial behaviour and alcohol-related crime, but the Home Secretary and myself regularly have discussions with Police on all aspects of crime, which include antisocial behaviour and alcohol-related crime.
	As announced in the recent written ministerial statement on the evaluation of the impact of the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Andy Burnham) together with the Home Secretary, will convene a summit of police and local authorities to explore how we can take proposals forward to further tackle alcohol-related harms.

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government plans to take to reduce underage drinking.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 18 February 2008
	The Government take underage drinking very seriously. The National Alcohol Strategy 'Safe.Sensible.Social' published in June 2007, focuses action on three groups most at risk which are 18 to 24-year-old binge drinkers, young people under 18 who drink alcohol, and harmful drinkers whose drinking is damaging their health, often without them realising it.
	In the Home Secretary's speech on 6 February 2008, she said that a number of new measures and possible steps would be taken to crack down on crime and antisocial behaviour which is fuelled by alcohol. This includes highlighting the message that it is not acceptable for young people to drink in public places. The Home Secretary also said that she is considering a number of options including making the possession of alcohol by a young person an offence, or possibly involving the parents if alcohol is confiscated from a child. We are currently considering the effectiveness of the current powers and what can be done to help the police use them more effectively.
	The Department for Children, Schools and Families will also be publishing an action plan later in the year on young people and alcohol which will contain further proposals for reducing drinking by young people. Additionally, two confiscation campaigns have taken place recently; one in October 2007 and one in February 2008. The results of the October campaign showed that nearly 3,700 litres of alcohol were confiscated from young people during the four week period.
	The Government also support schemes that make it easier for retailers to verify, and young people to prove their age. That is why we are working with the British Retail Consortium's Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS) which validates the variety of proof of age card schemes available. This allows card schemes to apply for accreditation under PASS and entitles them to issue cards displaying the PASS holographic logo. This is easily recognisable both to retailers and young people and helps them know that they have a proof of age document which should be accepted.

Alcoholic Drinks: Enforcement

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government have taken to work with licence holders to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour as a result of drinking on their premises.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 12 March 2008
	The Government continue to prioritise reductions in levels of alcohol-related disorder and antisocial behaviour. Through schemes such as Pubwatch and Best Bar None, we are continuing to support responsible management of licensed premises that results in reductions in alcohol-related crime and disorder. We have also held a series of enforcement campaigns that have targeted irresponsible premises and individuals that contribute to, or partake in alcohol-related crime and antisocial behaviour. This has involved meeting with retailers in local areas to raise awareness in respect of their responsibilities.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Drugs

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of post conviction anti-social behaviour orders contained conditions relating to drug offending, in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage of those anti-social behaviour orders were breached.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the conditions attached to antisocial behaviour orders on conviction is not collected centrally.

Asylum

Jennifer Willott: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will place in the Library copies of information provided to staff on the Border and Immigration Agency hon. Members' hotline on the Case Resolution Directorate; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: No specific guidance has been issued to workers on the hon. Members hotline. Information on the Case Resolution Directorate can be found on the Border and Immigration Agency website.

Border and Immigration Agency: Tribunals

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many employees of the Border and Immigration Agency's expenditure on advertising related Border and Immigration Agency's expenditure on advertising related its predecessor agency, took the agency and her Department to an employment tribunal in each of the last five years; how many such cases were successful for the claimant; what the complaint was in each such case; and how much has been paid in compensation in such cases over those years.

Liam Byrne: The number(1) of employees of the Border and Immigration Agency who have lodged Employment Tribunal claims, and the respective category of these complaints, in each of the last two calendar years(2) are shown in the table as follows.
	(1) Not all cases lodged have proceeded to a formal hearing. The figures reflect the number of staff who have lodged Tribunal claims in the two calendar years and not the number of times the cases have proceeded to a hearing.
	(2) The year in which the Employment Tribunal claim was lodged.
	
		
			  Category  2006  2007 
			 Sex Discrimination 6 5 
			 Disability Discrimination 7 1 
			 Age Discrimination 0 9 
			 Race Discrimination 2 5 
			 Religious Discrimination 0 1 
			 Sex Orientation Discrimination 1 1 
			 Unfair/Constructive Dismissal 27 32 
			 Unlawful Deduction of Wages 6 6 
			 Victimisation 0 1 
			 Total 49 61 
		
	
	None of the aforementioned claims which have been heard by the Employment Tribunal have been successful.
	Information prior to 2006 is unavailable.

Departmental Manpower

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) staff and  (b) full-time equivalent staff under 18 years of age are employed by her Department.

Liam Byrne: The most recent cross-government benchmarking data available (Civil Service Employment Survey 2006) for the number of staff under 18, as at the end of September 2006, shows that the Home Office compares favourably to other Government Departments.
	The latest 2008 figures show a slight decrease in the number of staff under 18; this can be attributed in part to seasonal fluctuations and the Home Office drive to improve efficiency savings and reduce our administrative function under the Gershon review.
	
		
			   30 September 2006  31 January 2008 
			  Permanent and non-permanent staff  Headcount  FTE  Headcount  FTE 
			 HO Headquarters (1)20 (1)20 Less than 5 Less than 5 
			 Border and Immigration Agency (1) (1) 14 8.35 
			 Criminal Records Bureau n/a n/a 0 0 
			 Identity and Passport Service n/a n/a 0 1 
			 n/a = Not available. 
		
	
	The Home Office recognises the value of an age diverse work force. We are a member of the Employers Forum on Age (EFA); more information on the EFA can be found at:
	http://www.efa.org.uk/default.asp
	The Home Office, like all responsible employers, works hard to ensure that all staff, regardless of age, are treated equally from their initial application through to when they leave us.

Departmental Pay

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much was claimed in reimbursable expenses by senior civil service staff in her Department and its agencies in the last 12 month period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: The Home Office accounting system does not hold the requested information in a readily accessible form, it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Of the Home Office agencies the Criminal Records Bureau reimbursed 12,700 in the last 12 months and the Identity and Passport Service reimbursed 35,000 in financial year 2006-07.
	All staff expenses are reimbursed subject to the conditions set down in the Civil Service Management Code.

Deportation: Grants

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of payments under the facilitated returns scheme were made to  (a) failed asylum seekers,  (b) migrants and  (c) foreign national prisoners in the last year for which information is available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 14 March 2008
	 The Facilitated Returns Scheme is limited to those foreign nationals who have committed a criminal offence for which they have received a custodial sentence and is not open to failed asylum seekers or migrants as separate categories.

Domestic Violence: Staffordshire

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for offences involving domestic violence in  (a) Tamworth constituency and  (b) Staffordshire in each year since 2000.

Vernon Coaker: The Home Office does not routinely collect data on the number of arrests for domestic violence related offences but is planning to commence the collection of this data from 2009-10 onwards. The Home Office does, however, collect data on the number of arrests for domestic violence related incidents since 2005-06.
	Incidents are defined as any incident of threatening behaviour, violence or abuse (psychological, physical, sexual, financial or emotional) between adults who are or have been intimate partners or family members', regardless of gender or sexuality.
	A subset of domestic violence related incidents, are those incidents where a specified offence has been committed.
	However there has been a change in what is collected as a result of changes in legislation as Section 110 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 made all offences arrestable.
	2005-06 to January 2006: number of arrests for those domestic violence incidents where a power of arrest existed.
	January 2006 onwards: number of arrests for any domestic violence incidents.
	Data is available from Staffordshire for the period 2004-05 and 2005-06:
	
		
			   Number 
			 2004-05 5,230 
			 2005-06 5,793

Drugs: Crime

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the Government plans to take to tackle illegal drugs.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 6 March 2008
	The Government published on 27 February a new comprehensive 10 year Drug Strategy backed-up with a three year action plan. The strategy is focused on preventing the number of young people developing drug problems, targeting families at risk and intervening early through a whole family approach, protecting communities through robust enforcement by attacking drug supply at all levels and cutting drug-related crime and disorder.
	Key actions to tackle illegal drugs and the harms they cause include:
	extending police powers to seize more dealers' cash and assets on arrest rather than conviction;
	embedding action to tackle drugs within the Neighbourhood Policing approach, responding to community concerns about drugs, acting on intelligence provided by the community and giving feedback on how such intelligence was used;
	identifying and targeting those drug misusing offenders causing the greatest harm to communities and improving the responses to divert them out of crime using more effective and integrated approaches;
	helping families at risk and supporting parents with drug problems and ensuring prompt access to treatment for all drug misusing parents with a treatment need;
	continuing to improve drug treatment with a focus on treatment outcomes and on more individuals overcoming drug dependence; and
	using opportunities presented by the benefits system to provide support and create incentives to move towards treatment, training and employment.

Drugs: Crime

Patrick McLoughlin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to combat drug-related crime in smaller towns and communities.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are committed to tackling drug related crime wherever it occurs, including in our smaller towns and communities.
	The recently published strategy, 'Drugs: protecting families and communities' sets out clearly our future intention to take a robust stance against dealers and to reduce drug-related offending, including developing ways to regularly engage and respond to the needs of communities. In addition, we will make asset seizure more visible to local communities so those communities see the benefits of working with police and their partners to identify dealers.
	The Government have already invested heavily, including through the Drug Intervention Programme (DIP), in reducing drug related crime. DIP aims to get adult drug-misusing offenders out of crime and into treatment and other support. Delivery at local level is through local partnerships, using integrated teams (including drug workers in all custody suites) for which funding is provided in all areas of England and Wales, including smaller towns and communities. Since DIP began, acquisitive crimeto which drug-related crime makes a substantial contributionhas fallen by around a fifth.

Firearms

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to reduce the availability and use of replica firearms in public places.

Vernon Coaker: In October 2007, as part of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006, we implemented a ban on the manufacture, import and sale of realistic imitation firearms, which evidence showed were being used in criminal activity to threaten and intimidate. The 2006 Act also increased to 12 months the maximum sentence for possessing an imitation firearm in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
	The police, together with SOCA and HM Revenue and Customs, are looking at the supply and availability of firearms as a priority. This includes items which contravene the recent legislation on realistic imitations.
	We have also recently increased the provision of search arches and wands in priority areas and, as part of the Tackling Violence Action Plan, have committed to providing additional search technology to the police and partner agencies.

Genetics: Databases

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Yorkshire residents had samples of their DNA recorded on the national DNA database at the latest date for which figures are available.

Meg Hillier: holding answer 11 March 2008
	The National DNA Database (NDNAD) does not hold address details, and it is not, therefore, possible to provide figures for the number of people who are resident in the Yorkshire area. The following table gives figures for people sampled by the Yorkshire police forces, however, these people may not be resident in the area in which they were sampled. There are two figures for each force: the number of profiles, and the estimated number of individuals. The number of profiles held on the database is not the same as the number of individuals. As it is possible for a profile to be loaded onto the NDNAD on more than one occasion, some profiles held on the NDNAD are replicates. This can occur, for example, if the person provided different names, or different versions of their name, on separate arrests, or because profiles are upgraded.
	At present, the replication rate is 13.3 per cent., that is, the number of people whose details are loaded is 13.3 per cent. fewer than the number of profiles.
	
		
			  Police force  Subject profiles  Estimated number of individuals 
			 North Yorkshire 55,879 48,447 
			 South Yorkshire 117,023 101,459 
			 West Yorkshire 214,362 185,852 
			 Total for Yorkshire forces 387,264 335,758

Migrants: English Language

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated into the proficiency in English of workers obtaining leave to enter under (i) the highly skilled migrants scheme and (ii) the work permit scheme; and what assessment she has made of the proficiency in English of those who have obtained leave to enter under these schemes.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 12 November 2007
	 People coming here under (HSMP) have been obliged to meet an English language requirement since November 2006. Such migrants have to prove that they have either:
	passed an English language test equivalent to level 6 (competent user) on the International English Language Testing System's scale; or
	Obtained a bachelor's degree or equivalent that was taught in English.

Rape: Prosecutions

James Brokenshire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the next quarterly report to the National Criminal Justice Board on local progress in investigating and prosecuting rape will be issued; and if she will publish  (a) this report and  (b) all future reports from the board.

Vernon Coaker: The Rape Performance Group will report to the National Criminal Justice Board on a quarterly basis, but the precise arrangements for this have yet to be agreed. There are no plans to publish a quarterly report on the performance of police forces and CPS areas on the investigation and prosecution of rape cases.

Sudan: Overseas Aid

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether he has received reports of the hijacking of World Food programme trucks in Darfur since 1 January 2008; and what assessment he has made of the humanitarian impact of such events in Darfur.

Gillian Merron: The latest statement from the World Food Programme (WFP) indicated that five WFP passenger vehicles and 45 WFP-contracted trucks have been hijacked in Darfur since the start of 2008. Some 37 trucks and 23 drivers are still unaccounted for.
	The insecurity in Darfur has forced many agencies to scale back operations at a time on increasing need. Although existing food stocks are sufficient for the next two months, the insecurity is hampering the ability of WFP and other agencies to stock pile food, medicines, shelter materials and fuel before the onset of the rainy season in May/June when needs will rise dramatically and logistics become extremely difficult.

National Apprenticeships Service

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what the functions and objectives of the proposed National Apprenticeships Service are; and if he will make a statement.

John Denham: The proposed National Apprenticeship Service (NAS) will have end to end responsibility for the Apprenticeship programme, including accountability for the national delivery of targets. Full functions and objectives of the National Apprenticeship Service are detailed in Section 4 of 'World-class Apprenticeships: Unlocking Talent, Building Skills for All' published on 28 January 2008. The NAS will be a distinct service within the Learning and Skills Council and will commence in April 2009.

Bursaries

Andrew MacKay: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, if he will take steps to improve access to bursaries for students from lower-income families.

Bill Rammell: This Government have put in place the most generous financial support package ever. At least 70,000 students from a lower-income background have received bursaries.
	But we can and must do more. We have made improvements to the Student Finance Form to make it easier for students to consent to share financial information to be assessed for bursaries. We are also working with OFFA and the sector on sharing good practice on encouraging bursary take-up.

Learning and Skills Council

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills What his policy is on the future role of the Learning and Skills Council.

John Denham: The White Paper 'Raising Expectations: enabling the system to deliver', was published jointly with DCSF on 17 March 2008. This sets out proposals to replace the Learning and Skills Council with two new systems. Responsibility for 16-19 funding will transfer to local authorities, supported by a new Young People's Learning Agency. For adults we propose to strengthen the demand led approach, including through the creation of a new Skills Funding Agency and a strengthened advice and support service.
	These proposals will require legislation, and the LSC will continue to play an important role in securing effective delivery of post 16 learning until the new arrangements are in place.

Universities: Access

Christine Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, what discussions he has held with universities on enabling public access to their facilities.

Bill Rammell: This is already part of the business of higher education providers. For example, over two million people attend public lectures and performances put on by HE providers, UK academics provide over 30,000 working days in support of museums, galleries and related education activity, benefiting millions of people, and the public can access top class sporting facilities as well. Our new university challenge initiative also emphasises that higher education providers make a real difference to the cultural life of towns, not least through the facilities which benefit both students and communities.

Age: Discrimination

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps the Government has taken to identify and record instances of age discrimination in the workplace.

Patrick McFadden: I have been asked to reply 
	on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills.
	Neither the European Framework Directive (2000/78/EC) nor the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations, which implement the age strand of the directive, require instances of age discrimination in the workplace to be identified and recorded. Instances of age discrimination that individuals have challenged through the employment tribunal system are recorded. Data about cases are available in the employment tribunal and EAT statistics for the year to 31 March 2007 at:
	www.employmenttribunals.gov.uk/publications/documents/annual_reports/ETSAS06-07.pdf
	We shall be monitoring the effectiveness of the legislation through the second Survey of Employers Policies, Practices and Preferences Relating to Age in 2009 and through the second Fair Treatment at Work Survey later this year which looks at perceptions of discrimination in the workplace.

Departmental Video Conferencing

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will set a target to increase the use of video-conferencing by his Department to reduce the need to travel to meetings.

Bill Rammell: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills is committed to reducing the need to travel to meetings where this is practicable and appropriate. Our departmental blueprint sets out our vision to be innovative and have exemplary business operations. In developing our new headquarters building, Kingsgate House, we have installed state-of-the-art video conferencing and telepresence facilities, as well as phone conferencing. E-conferencing is also being used to give people the ability to attend meetings from their desks by accessing a shared workspace which enables interaction with colleagues. Our wide range of video conferencing facilities provide for ad-hoc one-to-one conversations as well as formal planned meetings and committees. These are seen as really positive steps within the Department and I do not believe that to develop an artificial target to increase video conferencing usage would deliver any additional benefits.